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England plans to give Fly Half to Fly Half its first international start against France on Saturday, Marcus Smith moving backwards in a bold call as they seek to end their poor recent race.
The defeat in Dublin finished seventh in nine games for the Steve Barthwick team, who only beat Japan during this period.
Marcus Smith started each of the last eight games in England at the age of 10, but his versatility was discussed by Barthwick before this campaign, the head coach starting him at the back during the 2023 World Cup.
France’s trend to launch out a long time potentially creates greater counterattack opportunities and reduces the value of the air specialist Freddie Steward. The Harlequins Fly half played every eight -minute bar of the confrontation of the six nations of last year between the pair back after an injury to George Furbank.
With George Ford also in the mixture as an experienced option, the attack coach Richard Wigglesworth would not confirm the assembly of the game leaders of England for the crunch clash in Twickenham, but discussed potential options that the deployment of two flies with flies would arise.
“I think we are lucky for three 10 that can all play international rugby at a high level,” said Wigglesworth. “At the end was less lucky than the others at the moment, but he is really clear with his game, he is confident without being arrogant and wants to improve. He has all the things you associate with the top 10s. He is really clear with what he wants and how to best position the team.
“We have seen [Marcus at 15] With George [Ford] And we saw it with end [Smith]. It is obviously another set of eyes which are very opportunistic: “Where is space?” Who can I beat? Whether with George or with end, that’s what it would bring. »»
The Introduction of the end Smith over the 65 minutes against Ireland saw Marcus Smith move back, the pair combining well while England has torn off a bonus point losing a second half otherwise difficult . They were also used together with good effect against Japan in the fall.
Last year, half of Northampton’s fly when they appeared in the successful premiere final, The Younger of the Smiths produced exceptional performances in a number of big games.
Henry Slade seems to continue in the centers alongside the Smiths as the third distribution option, the Exeter playmaker regularly presenting himself halfway to the club this season.
“It gives you an additional ball player,” says Slade. “When you talk about moving the ball to space, it is always better to have three people trying to do that only two.
“I have the impression that whoever plays at 10 or 15 years ago for different forces for each person. I don’t think I play too differently. I am sure that my state of mind is always “where is space?” How can I get there? This probably helps to have an additional guy with your eyes, take the ball into it.
“”[Fin] sees the space very well. There will always be space on the ground somewhere; You cannot defend everything. Obviously, it is a 10 little different from Marcus. Marcus has this factor x in terms of head-on-or-head and all that, but I think that end is very measured.
“He speaks very well and, as I said, finds space very well. This is a large part of the role of a No. 10: to move the team to the place where they must be on the ground. I think it was really good in this area.
“When people run towards them, they are still decent defenders. I saw some end clips by hitting big guys, so I hope he can do it on weekends if it is involved. »»
